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The Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles recently hosted 60 students from the U.S. and Canada for the National Braille Challenge. Competitions were held in reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, plus chart and graph reading. "For these kids, it's like the National Spelling Bee," said Nancy Niebrugge, director of the Braille Challenge. "It's exciting for them to be the best in Braille among their peers."

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Some 60 students who cannot see came from 43 states and four Canadian provinces to compete in Saturday's Braille Challenge in Los Angeles. The 10th annual competition tested students' speed, accuracy, comprehension, proofreading and graph reading using Braille, and the event is aimed at promoting the use of Braille as an important communication tool for people who cannot see.

Jennifer Shields, 15, who has visual disabilities, will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the National Braille Challenge, a competition meant to increase awareness of Braille literacy. Sixty students will compete in the contest Saturday.